Vehicle thefts have been on the rise in Halton as of late.
The Media Relations Officer with the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS), Constable Ryan Anderson, tells myFM that the car thieves continue to trick the vehicle’s keyless entry system by relaying the signal from your fob. They do this by using a relay theft device that amplifies the signal from your fob that is sitting at the front of the house, typically by the front-door.
Constable Anderson breaks down the numbers.
These relay thefts can take just seconds. He adds that victims will come downstairs in the morning, have their keys/fobs with them, and their vehicle will be missing from the driveway.
READ: Three Montreal men facing charges for high-end vehicle thefts in Halton
So, what kind of vehicles are being stolen? Constable Anderson says it’s been typically Lexus models in Halton. Land Rovers have also been targets, as well as newer Toyotas. Relay car thefts target vehicles with keyless entry and push-start ignitions. The thieves then steal the vehicle from your driveway where it might be shipped and sold overseas or possibly used in other crimes.
The HRPS is warning residents of this recent spike and providing them with ways to avoid becoming the next victim. Constable Anderson goes over some prevention tips.
Another simple tip is to avoid keeping your fobs at the front of the house. The relay devices are picking up the wireless signal from these fobs and the further away from your vehicle the better your chances are at avoiding having your vehicle stolen.
READ: Halton Police announces additional arrests in vehicle theft cases
A video was released by the Halton Police this morning to show just how fast these thefts can happen.
We're investigating an increase in relay/reprogramming thefts of high-end vehicles.
Details and prevention tips can be found here: https://t.co/q39KABWvHS pic.twitter.com/108vtdtxiC
— Halton Police (@HaltonPolice) July 15, 2021
